OfficeMax exec appointed to Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce board

CHICAGO — OfficeMax EVP and president of OfficeMax Workplace John Kenning has been appointed to the board of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.

The appointment comes just seven months after Kenning joined OfficeMax to lead the retailer’s contract division that was renamed OfficeMax Marketplace earlier this month.

"I'm honored to join with my peers to advance the Chicagoland Chamber's objectives of helping area businesses to grow and promoting the economic development of the region," said Kenning. "At OfficeMax, we believe in the extraordinary value of building relationships with other businesses and the success that can be achieved through collaboration. Our company has long been dedicated to the growth and success of Chicago, and it is my privilege to work with the Chamber Board as an advocate for creating a community of innovation and opportunity throughout the Chicagoland area."

The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1904, is the largest chamber of commerce in Illinois and one of the largest in the nation. It boasts 2,600 members, representing over 1.3 million individual employees in the six-county Northeastern Illinois region.

"I'm pleased to welcome John as one of the newest members of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors," said Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce chairman of the board and Charter One and RBS Citizens, Illinois and Michigan president Scott C. Swanson. "By pooling resources to serve as the 'Voice of Business' for the greater Chicago area, the Chicagoland Chamber strives to make ours the most business-friendly region in the country by engaging in aggressive public policy and economic development initiatives, creating meaningful events and programs, and connecting our members to each other and the community. As Chairman of the Board, it's an honor to work with our community's extraordinary leadership and talented staff to implement strategic initiatives for the betterment of our region. We welcome John to the table, and I look forward to working with him in the months to come."

OfficeMax has a strong presence in the Chicagoland area, serving local businesses and consumers through an integrated sales and customer service team. It has more than 40 stores and two distribution facilities in the immediate region. OfficeMax multi-national headquarters are also located in Naperville. OfficeMax is involved in the community through various activities that include being the title sponsor for the upcoming Hockey City Classic in Feb. 2013.